Dai & the Ramblers, Duw Duw, album review

Duw Duw, Just Peachy Records

Tuesday 28 January 2014 18:55 GMT
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Dai & The Ramblers, Duw Duw
Dai & The Ramblers, Duw Duw

My Googling exploits tells me that the title translates from the Welsh as “Well, Well” which is as good enough a title as any for a collection of rocking tracks by a folk’n’blues-inspired London-based four piece led by Dai Price.

The story goes that they were heard by famed Ace Records founder Ted Carroll who whisked them off to a recording studio where they cut 11 entertaining tracks ranging from originals such as "Stones in My Shoes" which highlights Alan Dunn’s zydeco-like accordion playing, and the gospel waltz “Speak of the Devil” to a spirited rockabilly take of blues shouter Joe Turner’s “The Chicken and The Hawk” and an ambitious version of the Ray Charles staple “What’d I Say”.

There aren’t too many contemporary groups who would also tackle a modern jazz standard by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, yet Dai & the Rambles proceed to do that by performing Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower”, which is probably the most impressive track on the entire CD.

I’ll leave the last word to Carroll, a former manager of Thin Lizzy: “One the best bands I’ve ever seen and over 50-plus years, and I’ve seen them all.” Who are we to disagree?

Amazon, £9.99

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